Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 123: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Xe t. Te 2 ee eo LLL LLL ES ee ees ————— -—— —————— ae nnn — ae ee mee eee el —it is with an unfeigned pleasure AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, ee ee ee 115 restly upon him as if expressive of the deepest. interest in his recital. Those eyes were instantaneously withdrawn— the work was snatched up again—the dusky coun- tenance was bent down over it; and all this took place so suddenly that Gustavus was for a few ' instants bewildered whether the bright eyes had really been fixed upon him at all, or whether it were not a delusion on his own part. But again his looks wandered slowly over the shape which the light dress defined; and he became convinced that it was one of no ordinary symmetry that he was thus regarding. A fine bust and a slender waist were undoubtedly possessed by Emily Pin- nock: and now, as the looks of Gustavus were bent lower, they settled upon a foot of the most exquisite shapeliness which, together with a por- tion of a well-rounded ankle, peeped forth from beneath the skirt of that dress. The well-made shoe and the well-fitting silken hose delineated the modelling of that foot and ankle; and Gus- tavus was now beginning to think that Emily Pirnock must be a little more worthy of his at- tention than he had at-first supposed. But still he could form no positive idea of the outlines of her profile or the general contours of her linea- ments. “Well, Mr. Barrington,” said Mr. Pinnock, “ you have suffered great hardships, and you have displayed a remarkable courage throughout a most painful ordeal. It would be my duty in any case, for the sake of my friends the Millards in London, to show every attention to one who has suffered while engaged in their service : but in the present instance there is something more than mere duty However, I hate long rhodomontading speeches; and there- fore to come to the point at once, you must make this house your home for as long as you like, and Iwill do all I can to further your views here- after.” “I will certainly accept your kind hospitality, Mr, Pinnock,” replied Gustavus, “ until through your generous assistance 1 may obtain a berth in another ship———” “Well, well,” interrupted the merchant, “ we shall see all about that. Emily, my dear, Mr. Barrington is our guest: go and make all requi- site arrangements.” Emily at once rose from her seat: but as she turned abruptly round at the same instant to de- posit her work in the drawer of a little side-table, Gustavus again failed to catch a distinct view of her features: and he could not help thinking within himself, “She must be ugly after all! Poor girl, she knows it, and she studies to conceal her countenance as much as possible from the gaze of a stranger !” But while making these reflections, the youth was following Miss Pinnock with his eyes as she advanced towards the door ; and if his mind were again filled with painful misgivings in respect to her countenance, it at least entertained no doubt eoncerning the admirable symmetry of her form. She was tall and upright; but this reed-like straightness was utterly apart from stiffness. On the contrary, there was an elegant ease and grace- ful flexibility of the entire figure, as she walked, which gave additional charms to the excellence of that symmetry. Ske had broad shoulders, but a slender waist ; and the sweeping length of her limbs indicated their flowing outlines beneath the light dress which she wore: for this dress was scanty enough on account of the heat of that West In- dian elimate. The neck was long and arching: the head was admirably poised upon it; and luxu- riant masses of coal-black hair descended upon the finely sloping shoulders. The skirt of the dress being rather short, not merely revealed the beautifully-shaped feet and ankles, but for a mo- ment afforded a glimpse of a leg that was modelled to the perfect symmetry of a statue. The next instant the door closed behind Miss Pinnock: but she disappeared without once turning her face towards the table—so that Gustavus found him- self heaving a sigh as he inwardly thought, “What a pity it is that so splendid a figure should be so ill-matched with an ugly face!—for ugly I am convinced she is !”’ Mr. Pinnock lighted another cigar—compelled his young guest to follow his example—passed round the wine—and continued to descant upon the loss of the Catharine Millard, or to ask fresh questions upon the subject. Auother hour thus went by: but Emily returned not to the room. Gustavus was wishing that she would, though he could not rightly understand why—unless it wero that he experienced the utmost curiosity to have a full view of her countenance. At length Mr, Pinnock rose from the table, and offered to con- duct the youth to the chamber which had by this time been prepared for him. It was therefore evident that Miss Emily had retired for the night; and there was something that bordered upon a feeling of disappointment in the youth’s mind that she did not reappear, even if only for a few instants. “T am going into Kingston early in the morn- ing,” said Mr, Pinnock, as he shook hands with Gustavus at the door of the chamber to which he conducted him; “and as you will no doubt like to look over the town and the shipping, you can ac- company me. Breakfast will be served at about half-past eight o’clock,”’ Young Barrington retired to rest ; and he soon fell asleep to dream of shipwrecks, the old miser and his gold, his cousin Winifred, his grand- father in Whitecross Street prison, and Emily Pinnock, whom his fancy depicted with the most elegant of figures and the ugliest of faces, His imagination was at first erratic in these visions: but it presently began to settle itself more and more on the last-mentioned object. He dreamt that he was entering the room where he had passed the evening with Mr. Pinnock and his niece—and that on crossing the threshold, he per- ceived the latter standing at a casement with her back towards him. He fancied that he stood to admire that shape in which elegance of symmetry, gracefulness of carriage, and youthful elasticity blended with a voluptuous richness of contours. He thought that after a little while he advanced farther into the room—that the sounds of his foot- steps fell upon Miss Emily’s ears—and that with a sudden start she turned round towards him. And now he fancied that he obtained a full view of her countenance ; and a sensation of pain, sorrow, and disgust seized upon him—for his imagination de- picted that face as being deeply scarred with the ravages of the small-pox, the marks looking all the CO Comicloolks